15 years of Daisy Chain - Craig Harvey

In Daisy Chain’s fifteenth anniversary year, Craig Harvey will be completing his fifteenth Great North Run for the autism charity based in Norton.

It will be Craig’s 27th Great North Run – but the 48-year-old began to support Daisy Chain as soon as the charity was formed in 2003.

Diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome at 25, Daisy Chain quickly became a cause close to Craig’s heart. He discovered the charity while he was working in a shop alongside founder Lesley Hanson’s daughter, Leah.

“I was one of Daisy Chain’s first fundraisers,” Craig says proudly. “I love walking and dogs so I started doing sponsored dog walks. Then as a member of the Great North Run, I started running it to raise funds for Daisy Chain.”

Even a shattered knee cap after a fall hasn’t stopped Craig, “I must admit I didn’t think I would get to do another Great North Run but I wouldn’t let myself take no for an answer – I am quite fit so I made a quick recovery.”

Craig, whose personal best time is 2 hours 22 minutes, is now set to run for Daisy Chain this year to celebrate the fifteenth anniversary. Working as a refuse collector in Middlesbrough also helps to keep him fit, “It’s a very physical job so that helps,” he explains. “I cycle to work at Cargo Fleet in Middlesbrough from Stockton four days a week so that helps too.”

With the support of Daisy Chain, Craig has made huge progress over the years in holding down his job and living independently. “When I was younger I was labelled a ‘no-hoper’. I had no confidence or self-esteem and that held me back but Daisy Chain has helped me prove to myself that none of that was true.”

The Great North Run 2018 takes place on Sunday 9th September - for more information on the event, please visit Our Fundraising Events pages.

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